GEORGE TOWN: The undersea tunnel plan will be important for the development of the state, provided it can be built in line with the growth of Penang port, which operates near the tunnel's proposed site, says Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.

       The Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman said the PPC and Penang Port Sdn Bhd welcomed and supported the state government's intention to build the third link, but asked that the growth of the port's operations be given consideration as well.

       "Since 2019, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), as the operators of Penang port, have been involved in reviewing the undersea tunnel project with PPC also involved to discuss the technical issues.

       "We sent a review report on the project to the state economic planning unit on May 20, 2020, with several suggestions on how the construction could be done effectively," Tan said at a press conference announcing the submission of a written report on the tunnel to the state government at the PPC office on Thursday (March 31).

       Tan said PPC had always stressed that the width of the channel in the north must be maintained at 2.2km to ensure safe navigation for the movement of ships in the area.

       "There is a trend towards building bigger ships with an optimum size of 13,000 TEUs to enter or berth at the ports.

       "With these ships having a draft of 16m, the sea depth must also be at a minimum of 23m for them to pass safely," he said.

       Tan said PPC also wanted the state government to reconsider a planned artificial island north of the third link project, near Bagan Ajam.

       "It should be moved nearer to shore to prevent disruption of activities at NBCT and from being an obstacle for the future expansion of the container terminal," he said.

       Tan said these were among the reservations that PPC and PPSB had highlighted in the report submitted to the state government on Wednesday (March 30).

       "We fully support the project as its construction is in tandem with the expansion of Penang port, which would give an added advantage to Penang," added Tan.

       On Tuesday (March 29), Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government had sent reminders that it was still waiting for PPC to submit a written review of the proposed tunnel project.

       He said the state needed the report to decide on the project's implementation.

       It was reported on March 26 that PPC was finalising the written review with PPSB, including a detailed report on the shipping aspects.